Ventilator



Feb. 2, 1943. A. G. slEBENLlsT VENT ILATOR Filed Aug. 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Feb 2 1943- A. G. slEBENLlsT I 2,309,717

VENTILATOR Filed Aug. 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV ENTOR.

Patented Feb. 2, 1943 VENTILA'DOR Anthony G. Slebcnlist, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milcor Steel Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a

corporation of Delaware Application August 23, 1940, Serial No. 353,803

3 Claims.

'I'he invention relates to ventilators and has more particular reference to a stationary louver ventilator adapted for insertion as a unit in a wood framed, brick or masonry wall toA admit air for Ventilating purposes.

The air ventilator of the invention has been designed to fulfill a two-fold purpose. Architects and building contractors have long been aware of the need for generous attic cross-ventilation to relieve the excessive heat generated by the hot summer sun. With the advent of airtight, insulated home construction it has been found that adequate ventilation is also required during the winter in order to prevent moisture ventilator having a removable wire screen which will be securely held in place by improved means constructed integral with the frame of the ventilator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a louver ventilator having novel structural features rendering the same water-proof, particularly with respect to the top and bottom louver opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a louver ventilator of improved design which can be fitted within an opening in a frame or brick wall and wherein a ventilator of standard thickness can be used for any thickness of Wall.

With these and other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto. i

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a perspective view, parts being shown in section, of the louver ventilator of the invention showing the same installed in a wooden frame wall;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present ventilator showing parts in section similar to trating the use of metal counter-dashing for the ventilator when installed in a wooden frame wall as in Figure 1:

Figure 4 is a front-elevational view of the ventilator;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of `the rear surface of the ventilator showing improved features of the invention;

'Figure '7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line l-l of Figure 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the bent tabs for retaining the wire mesh frame within the ventilator; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the method of joining the side walls and flanges at the respective corners. of the ventilator frame.

Referring to the drawings, the ventilator of the invention includes a frame indicated in its entirety by Ill, having front flanges Il and I2 on the respective sides thereof, and top and bottom flanges I3 and I4. The flanges are suitably united at the respective corners of the frame and within the opening defined by the flanges a plurality of louvers I5 are located with their surface sloping downwardly and outwardly toward the front of the ventilator in order to prevent rain or snow from passing through the louver opening while freely permitting the passage of air. It is also necessary to screen the opening in a, ventilator of this character and accordingly a wire mesh frame I6 is positioned to the rear of the louvers -I5 and suitably retained in position by improved means to be presently described in detail which permit removal of the wire frame. A

For installing thepresent ventilator in a wood frame wall Il, Figure 1, an opening is cut in the wall approximately the sizeof the opening framed by the inside edges of the flanges `I I, I2, I3 and I4. A woodl frame I8 of proper thickness is then nailed around the opening, the outside measurements of which are the same as the extreme outside dimensions of the flanges on the ventilator. The present ventilator is then inserted in the opening thus formed and securely held in` place by either nailing or screwing the ventilator flanges to the Wood frame I8. The opening for the ventilator may be reinforced onthe inside of the Wall by transverse member I9 which extend parallel and substantially coincide with the top and bottom members of the wood frame I3. It will be observed that the wood siding for the wall of Figure 1, in the form of clap boards 20 is not disturbed by the installation of the present ventilator in the manner as described. The flanges I I, I2 and I4 overlap the clap boards and therefore form a waterproof joint therewith. With respect to the upper flange I3 the invention contemplates metal counterfiashing, Figure 3, which provides an upper ange 2| for location under the clap boards 20 and a. depending flange 22 which overlaps the top ange I3 of the ventilator. As a result of this construction rain and moisturefrom the clap board 20 will be deposited onto the metal counter-flashing and due to the overlapping relation of ange 22 with the top ilange I3 of the ventilator the moisture will be prevented from entering between the ventilator and the wood framed wall.

For inserting the ventilator of the invention in a brick or masonry wall 23, Figure 2, an opening is provided slightly larger than the extreme outside measurements of the frame formed by the flanges II, I2, I3 and I4. A wood frame formed by members 24 is positioned within the opening and suitably blocked so as to form a secure and permanent fit with the same. 'Ihe anges of the ventilator are then secured to the wood frame 24 by means of nails or screws. For water-proofing the installation the openingen the outside of the ventilator is completed by molding in the form of a quarter-round 25.

The construction of the ventilator is best i1- lustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. Considering rst the side flanges II and I2, it will be observed that each flange has been bent from a longitudinal metal strip having a portion forming the respective side walls oi' the opening within which is located louvers I5. The flange II, Figure 6, is integral with the portion 26 which forms one side wall of the present ventilator. In a similar manner the side iiange I2 is integral with the side wall 21. The metal along the outer edge of the flanges II and I2 is bent back upon itself to form the beaded edges 28 and the metal along the rear edge of the side walls 26 and 21 is likewise b'ent in a, directionV inwardly toward the louver opening to form similar beaded edges 29. At the extremities of the ilanges Il and I2, respectively, tabs are provided identified by numeral 30 at the upper edge of the flanges and by numeral 3| at the lower edge.

The tabs 30 overlap the upper flange I3 and by spot-welding as at points 32 the flanges II and I2 are securely united to the top flange I3.` Along the edge of flange I3 the metal is bent back upon itself, providing the beaded edge 33, Figure 5, and in accordance with the invention the said ange is integral with the top wall 34 of the louver opening. The louvers I have been described as positioned within the opening provided therefor, each louver being independent of its adjacent louvers, and being secured in parallel arrangement by the downwardly bent tabs 35 which are in turn spot-welded as at 36 to the side Walls 26 and 21, respectively. The upper louver 31, in accordance with the invention, is integral with the top wall 34, the same being suitably bent from the strip of metal forming said top wall and the upper flange I3. However, said louver is provided with depending tabs 38 on its respective ends which are spot-welded as at 36 to the side walls of the louver openings 26 and 21. Constructing the top louver 31 integral with the wall 34 improves the water-proofing qualities of the present ventilator. Rain or snow which may be blown into this pocket or corner is accordingly trapped and entrance of this moisture is electively prevented.

'I'he bottom wall 40 of the opening of the present ventilator is formed integral with the lower flange I4. The metal of said ange along its lowermost edge is bent back upon itself to form the beaded edge 4|. The tabs 42, integral with the bottom wall 40, overlap the side edges 26 and 21 and are securely united thereto by spot-welding as at 36. In a similar manner each side wall is provided at its upper edge with a tab 39 which overlaps the top wall 34 and is united thereto by spot-welding. It will be observed that the bottom wall 46 is parallel with the louvers I5 and when viewed from the front of the ventilator said bottom wall has the appearance of a louver. The inner upper edge of the same is bent to provide a retaining iiange 43 for retaining in position the wire mesh frame I6 which is releasably locked to the rear of the present ventilator in a manner which will new be described in detail.

The wire mesh frame I6 provides a wire mesh screen 44 for closing the rear of the louver open, ing. It is desirable to have the screening removable so that during the winter months the louver opening can be closed by substituting a met-al sheet or heavy cardboard sheet for the screening. The lower end of the wire mesh frame I6 is held by the retaining flange 43, whereas, the upper portion of the frame is releasably held by the bent tabs 45 and 46 integral with the side walls 26 and 21, respectively. When the tabs are bent down upon the frame I6 the same is frictionally held between the tabs and the rear of the louvers I5. For removing the frame it is only necessary to bend the tabs 45 and 46 outwardly and the frame can be lifted from the retaining flange 43.

The ventilator of the invention has the advantage that the same may be installed within an opening of any thickness in a frame or brick wall. Adequate ventilation will be provided thereby although rain and moisture will be prevented from entering the opening by the louvers. By constructing the top louver 31 integral with the top wall 34 the water-proofing qualities are improved and the construction costs are kept at a minimum. It is also relatively easy to install the present ventilator and maintain the joints around the anges relatively water-tight, particularly with the use of the metal counterflashing for the top flange I3 when the ventilator is installed in a Wood framed Wall. The louvers I5 are parallel with each other, having an upwardly projecting edge 41 along the rear, and a downwardly projecting edge 48 along the front, which is beaded as at 49. The top louver 31 is in parallel relation with the louvers I5 and likewise the bottom wall 40 is in similar parallel relation. The edges 41 of the louvers I5 are employed as a stop for the removable wire screen frame I6 which is held in the rear of the louver opening in contact with the edges 41 by the tabs 45 and 46. The retaining flange 43 provides a lock for the wire screen frame preventing removal of the same unless the tabs are bent outwardly to release the wire screening.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ventilator, a, metal frame providing a louver opening including side walls each having a front iiange integral therewith, a top wall secured to the upper ends of the side wall, and a downwardly and outwardly sloping bottom wall, said bottom wall being secured to the side walls and providing an upwardly directed retaining ange along the rear edge thereof, said top and bottom walls respectively having integral front flanges disposed in the same plane as the flanges of the side Walls for securement thereto, a plurality of louver members within said opening extending between the side walls and in parallel arrangement with said outwardly sloping bottom wall, a. wire mesh screen having a reinforcing frame and located within the rear of said opening, said frame having contact with the rear edges of said louver members and being retained along its bottom edge -by said upstanding retaining ange, and a plurality of tabs provided by the side walls for releasably securing the upper portion of said frame within the louver opening.

2. In a ventilator, a 'metal frame providing a louver opening. including spaced parallel side walls, a. top wall positioned within and secured to the side walls at the upper ends thereof by portions bent therefrom, and a. downwardly and outwardly sloping bottom wall, said bottom wall being secured to the side walls and providing an upwardly directed retaining flange along the rear edge thereof, a plurality of louver members withing said opening extending between the side walls in parallel arrangement with said sloping bottom` wall, said louver members having portions bent therefrom for contact with the side walls to secure the members to said walls. said top walls having a louver member integral therewith and also providing bent portions for securement to the side walls, a wire mesh screen having a reinforcing frame and located within the rear of said opening, said frame having contact with the rear edges of said louver members and being retained along its bottom edge by said upstand ing retaining flange, and a plurality of tabs provided by the side walls for releasably securing the upper portion of said frame within the louver opening.

3. In a ventilator, a metal frame providing a louver opening including spaced parallel side walls, a top wall having securement to the side walls, and a downwardly and outwardly sloping bottom wall also having securement to the side walls and providing an upwardly directed retaining iiange along the rear edge thereof, a plurality of louver members within said opening extending between the side walls andin parallel arrangement With said outwardly sloping bottom wall whereby said bottom wall presents the appearance of a louver member, said louver members having portions bent therefrom for contact with the side walls to secure the members to said walls, the top wall having the top louver member connected thereto along the rear edge of said wall, a wire mesh screen having a reinforcing frame and being located within the rear of said opening, said frame being retained along its bottom edge by said upstanding retaining flange, and said frame having contact with the rear edges of said louver members and being additionally retained in the opening by fastening means vertically spaced from the said retaining flange.

ANTHONY G. SIEBENLIST. 

